The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: Dave W on February 20, 2017, 09:38:12 AM
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Gold alloy flats (http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/la-bella-gold-flats.html)
They sound good in the demo video. The downside (in the description) is that they may tarnish and need removal for polishing with brass cleaner.
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I don't think it says you have to remove and polish periodically, just if it bothers you that they change appearance over time. Kinda the same thing as nickel wound strings that develop a patina; not a problem tonewise, but some people may not like the look of it.
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But it does say that:"Carefully remove your strings before cleaning".
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IMHO: disclaimer.
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Sure, it's a disclaimer, but there must be a good reason for it, since you don't see disclaimers for tarnish on stainless or nickel wrapped strings.
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SS by def does not tarnish (it will get dirty, but that's different). Nickel just looks cooler with a patina and guitar players all know that due to it's extensive history in both strings and hardware in general, but tarnished gold looks like shit. I really think too much is being read into this here, it's as simple as the company covering their ass before users complain after being caught by surprise.
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At the NAMM I saw LaBella tapewounds with clear tape! They had some thin coloured wire going through the tape, like bits of cotton threads? I dunno.. hard to explain. Looked like basses with rope instead of strings.
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At the NAMM I saw LaBella tapewounds with clear tape! They had some thin coloured wire going through the tape, like bits of cotton threads? I dunno.. hard to explain. Looked like basses with rope instead of strings.
Those could be their white nylon tapewounds, which are more clear than white, or what they call their gold white nylon tapes. Also could be one of their special editions.
About 15 years ago, Richard Cocco told me the strings inside their 60-115 black tapewounds were a 44-08 roundwound set. I unwound a dead set next time I changed strings on my EB-0L and measured them with my digital calipers. Sure enough, that's exactly what they were. Now they offer their black and white tapewounds in 50-105 sets too, so I imagine the inner strings must be very small, like 34-88.
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It were specials.
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I bought a set of the gold flats for my Duck Dunn Signature P - I haven't put them on yet, having a bit of maintenance done on the bass, planning to string them up when it's back:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3792/32929553311_4ee1c551c2_z.jpg)
I probably shouldn't have got them - I have a feeling my sweat is going to cause these to tarnish quick, hoping that they end up looking kind of like the pickguard. Also hoping that they are medium/high tension - I currently have DR Legends on there and they are pretty low tension, enough that I should really adjust the trussrod. I originally had GHS flats which were perfect really - should probably have left them on but I wanted to experiment...
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They should be about the same tension as the regular DTB flats, since weight determines tension and most of the weight is in the solid core wire. They should look good with that anodized pickguard.
It's been a long time since I had a set of GHS flats but IIRC the tension was comparable to the LaBellas.
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I hate to continue the trend of contrarianism here, but wouldn't tension be determined by a number of factors including density (of which weight is a factor) as well as the comparative torsional strength of different alloys? Weight alone assume that the materials are identical (and though the core wire is probably so, we don't know that for certain, and the wrap will have some effect, I'd suspect above negligable, if not by much).
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Read pages 3 and 4: http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/images/tension_chart.pdf
I was referring to actual pounds of string tension, the pull on the neck, and that's what D'addario is talking about here. There are other factors that affect the feel of the string -- I think the correct term is compliance. One string may have the same or lower tension than other but feel stiffer.
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"... may have the same or lower tension than others but feel stiffer ..."
That's my experience too. Mornings are best. Why not sail with the wind?
Compliance seems to be good term for it. I try to be all the time.
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"... may have the same or lower tension than others but feel stiffer ..."
That's my experience too. Mornings are best. Why not sail with the wind?
Compliance seems to be good term for it. I try to be all the time.
Do you spring back to the original tension afterwards?
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More standby mode.
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(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2612/32283898913_73aac73c3e.jpg)
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Compulsory compliance is mundane. There can be no release without tension of course. That's why things are more interesting with some dissonance and contrarianism. Ok maybe that statement doesn't apply solely to string construction.
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Some core wires are larger than others. And more rigid.
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Roundwound inherent abrasion is not for everyone, some prefer the silky feel of flatwounds, others want coated action with their strings.
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Roundwound inherent abrasion is not for everyone, some prefer the silky feel of flatwounds, others want coated action with their strings.
That depends on whether or not you play with a light or heavy touch. Stainless round windings are like little files. They can cause major owies. Best not to fret about it too much.
I don't like the feel of coated action, but it prevents unplanned accidents.
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Roundwound inherent abrasion is not for everyone, some prefer the silky feel of flatwounds, others want coated action with their strings.
There are also those of us with such lousy left-hand technique that when playing roundwounds, about every other time we move our hand, an obnoxious "zing" sound comes from the fingers moving across the rounds. Using flats solves this problem. If you have it. I'm just sayin'.
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Roundwound inherent abrasion is not for everyone, some prefer the silky feel of flatwounds, others want coated action with their strings.
I like it flat and smooth on an average basis, but from time to time that 'ribbed and rough' feeling is just in Place - but With the risk of getting sore if you play too hard. It leaves you comfortably numb, so to speak.
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Some people - even famous ones - say steaming your strings regularly helps. I guess that is hardcore advice.
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Steaming clams?
Steaming strings?
There's a certain symmetry there. :rolleyes:
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I wasn't alluding to that at all. :-X
I hate that adolescent locker room innuendo some threads here are drenched with. :-\
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Well I better not mention anything about ernie balls then.
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I am shocked, SHOCKED to witness this adolescent locker room innuendo.
Especially when I don't start it.
(https://danieljmitchell.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/casablanca.jpg)
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That depends on whether or not you play with a light or heavy touch. Stainless round windings are like little files. They can cause major owies. Best not to fret about it too much.
I don't like the feel of coated action, but it prevents unplanned accidents.
Just to refret more often.
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I am shocked, SHOCKED to witness this adolescent locker room innuendo.
Especially when I don't start it.
(https://danieljmitchell.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/casablanca.jpg)
So... round up the usual suspects?
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:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
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Is this part where I grab my ankles again :-*
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It'll be the beginning of a wonderful friendship, Mark.